U.S. outrage as Egypt bars Americans from leaving
Among those hit by travel bans - one of those targeted called it
"de facto detention" - is a son of U.S. Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood, as well as other foreign staffers of the
International Republican Institute and National Democratic
Institute, officials at the two organizations said.
US outrage as Egypt bars Americans from leaving
The United States said Egypt should reverse them: "We are urging
the government of Egypt to lift these restrictions immediately
and allow these folks to come home as soon as possible," State
Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
"We are trying to get them free to travel as soon as possible,
and we're hopeful that we can resolve this in coming days," she
said.
A month after police raided the Cairo offices of the IRI, NDI
and eight other non-governmental organizations, it raises the
stakes for Washington, which had already indicated it may review
the $1.3 billion it gives the Egyptian military each year if the
probe into alleged breaches of local regulations went on.
Some see it as a poor omen for Egypt's fledgling democracy
following last year's overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
John McCain, the leading Republican senator who chairs the IRI,
voiced "alarm and outrage" at a "new and disturbing turn" which
included a travel ban on Sam LaHood, the group's Egypt director.
The younger LaHood said he was stopped at Cairo airport on
Saturday and prevented from boarding a flight out.
McCain, in a statement referring to Egypt's ruling military
council, said: "I call on the Egyptian government and the
Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to cease the harassment and
unwarranted investigations of American NGOs operating in Egypt.
"This crisis has escalated to the point that it now endangers
the lives of American citizens and could set back the
long-standing partnership between the United States and Egypt."
source - Reuters